The Kirking of the Council is the oldest event in the city's annual calendar of events and this year's event was full of colour and pageantry.

Led by the combined pipes and drums of the Inverness British Legion and the St Andrew's Society of Central Illinois USA Pipe bands; the Kirking parade included uniformed youth groups, veterans from the Royal British Legion, the Armed Forces and Northern Constabulary to name but a few. Joining our Councillors in their red robes were representatives of the University of the Highlands and Islands in their purple and white trimmed black robes; and competitors in the Masters World Championships.

The parade went down from the Town House to the riverside and then down Church Street to the Old High Kirk where the Reverend Peter Nimmo welcomed Provost Graham and all the officials and organisations that give so much to our city. After the service, the congregation went back to the Town House for a well deserved cup of tea with the Provost.

The City of Inverness Highland Games started and finished with two unforgettable record breaking performances before a delighted crowd of over 3500 spectators.To celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the opening of Northern Meeting Park in 1864, the Games Committee invited spectators on to the field to join in the opening ceremony's Mass Highland Fling; and the delight on the faces of all concerned as the biggest Highland Fling in Inverness Highland Games history got underway was plain for all to see.After the unveiling of a special commemorative plaque to mark the occasion by Games Chieftain Provost Alex Graham, the crowd settled back to enjoy 6 hours of competition, performances and displays.In the Heavy events, Sinclair Patience revealed just how well his preparations are going for his debut in the World Championships in Dunfermline next month by successfully defending his Inverness Games title against an international field with included former Masters World Champion Jason Young, Torsten Hulsemann from Germany and Alan Herbert and David Garman of the USA.Michelle Smith of Inverness won the inaugural Inverness Highland Games Strongwoman competition which included truck pulling, a lady's version of the famous Inverness Stonemason's Stone Challenge and a weight over the bar competition which saw her overcome a determined challenge by Karen Sutherland.The afternoon ended with three Heavies stepping forward to attempt to lift the 252 pound Stonemason's Stone over a five foot bar. Simon Timpson of England and Alan Herbert of the USA both failed to lift the stone from the sodden turf before Sinclair Patience stepped forward to become the first man in history to successfully launch the Stone over the bar twice to the delight of crowd who gave him a well deserved standing ovation.The Anniversary Games could not have had a more exciting or finer conclusion.